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Educators, instructors, and trainers of pharmacy technicians can be recognized as experts in their field by earning the national Certified Pharmacy Technician Educator™ (CPTEd™) Certification.
CPTEds play a vital role in educating and mentoring students and pharmacy technicians. CPTEds will equip learners with the knowledge and skills necessary for roles in a variety of pharmacy practice settings, to earn national certification (e.g., CPhT), and to make positive impacts on patient care.
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Access these test resources before your exam date to ease your nerves and help you prepare for success.
Reference List
Many external references are available that may be useful to individuals preparing for the CPTEd exam.
Content Outline
Review the content outline, which lists the knowledge areas required on the CPTEd exams.
Pearson VUE Tutorial
The Pearson VUE tutorial provides a preview of the testing experience and functionality for PTCB exams.
Online Testing Requirements Overview
This quick video explains the requirements and policies for online proctored testing.
Are you eligible to earn your PTCB CPTEd Certification?
To apply to become a CPTEd, a candidate must qualify under one of the following pathways:
Pathway 1: Active PTCB CPhT Certification with at least three years of experience educating, instructing, or training in pharmacy.
Pathway 2: Active NHA CPhT Certification or pharmacy degree (e.g., PharmD, BS Pharm, BSPS) with at least three years of experience educating, instructing, or training in pharmacy.
CPTEd Certification Costs:
PTEC Members:
Application Fee (nonrefundable): $50* $0 until April 30, 2025
Initial Exam Registration Fee (includes both Multiple Choice and Written Exams): $238
Retake Multiple Choice Exam Registration Fee: $119
Retake Written Exam Registration Fee: $119
Non-PTEC Members:
Application Fee (nonrefundable): $99*
Initial Exam Registration Fee (includes both Multiple Choice and Written Exams): $318
Retake Multiple Choice Exam Registration Fee: $159
Retake Written Exam Registration Fee: $159
*The one-time fee is required per one-year Candidacy Eligibility Window.
To apply:
Apply for certification by logging into your PTCB Account or creating one if you don’t have an existing account.
Once your application is approved, you will receive an email granting you a one-year Candidacy Eligibility Window and a 90-day authorization to schedule and take your exams. During this one-year period, you must schedule, and take the CPTEd Multiple Choice Exam and the CPTEd Written Exam.
The CPTEd Multiple Choice Exam and the CPTEd Written Exam are administered through online proctored testing and in-person at more than 1,400 Pearson Professional Centers nationwide, including more than 100 military bases.
Both the CPTEd Multiple Choice Exam and the CPTEd Written Exam are computer-based exams administered online or at Pearson VUE test centers nationwide and can be taken in either order. Exams require separate appointments, but may be taken back-to-back depending on availability with Pearson VUE.
CPTEd Multiple Choice Exam:
CPTEd Written Exam:*
*This information is also available to examinees for reference during the exam.
About the Written Exam Prompts
The prompts will ask you to apply education and instruction knowledge (Domain 2) to hypothetical teaching scenarios. The following are example scenarios you may encounter in the prompts.
You may be asked to explain why the methods or strategies you plan to use in addressing the scenario are appropriate and/or what outcomes can be expected based on research evidence.
When you schedule your exams, you may choose to take your PTCB exams at a Pearson VUE test center or online from your own computer under the virtual supervision of a live proctor.
Candidates who require testing accommodations must request these accommodations during the application process. Accommodations that are reasonable and consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided by PTCB at no additional cost to candidates. Learn more.
Scores will be released in July 2025.
If you pass the Multiple Choice and Written Exams, your certification status can be verified through PTCB Certification Verification.
When you are granted certification, your certificate will be available to download through your PTCB Account.
Upon earning your certification, you will receive an email invitation from the Credly Platform via badge@ptcb.org with instructions for claiming your badge and setting up your account.
This digital badge will contain information describing your certification, including how you earned it. You can display the badge in your email signature, electronic files of a resume, and on social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
PTCB CPTEds are required to renew their certification every 2 years to maintain their credential. The expiration month and day are the same for all certificants: August 31. Learn more.
PTEC Members:
Recertification Application Fee: $0
Reinstatement Fee: $49
Non-PTEC Members:
Recertification Application Fee: $129
Reinstatement Fee: $149
Quick access to additional documents you may need during your PTCB CPTEd Certification or recertification process. Download the necessary documents and submit the completed forms as required.